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Philippines, 15 Feb 2026 |
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Small Talk with Nonito Donaire Sr. By Oliver A. Gabito, DDM PhilBoxing.com Sat, 15 Aug 2009  A few days ago, this writer had a chance to talk with Nonito Donaire Sr. I asked him about the Team Sonsona’s preparations on their upcoming fight against Puerto Rico’s, Jose “Carita“ Lopez. Donaire Sr. is now in the camp with “Marvelous“ Sonsona, a young boxer from General Santos City who is set to fight Carita Lopez on September 4, 2009 for the WBO World Super Flyweight Championship title, in Casino Rama, Ontario, Canada. Donaire Sr. said that he is happy with the way their training camp is progressing, he added that Kid Sonsona impresses him a lot during practice where Sonsona reminds him of his son Nonito's movement and with the power of a Pacman. "The Kid is showing a lot of skills and determination to win," Donaire said. "After a week, Sonsona was able to learn the styles and techniques that I was teaching. Honestly, I was very much impressed that he is adapting to my teaching technique in such a short period." It was a very amusing day for the Team, a few laughs followed when head coach Jun Agrabio entered the room of Donaire to have a chat with us. Agrabio told some old stories about his first encounter with Donaire Sr. He said that they were both on the same ring in opposite corners competing with each other fighters. They were shouting instructions at their respective fighters to execute the punching styles to try to have their fighter win against each other, that was surely a memorable moment "and now we are working together to make the best of Marvin," said Agrabio. For some people who don’t know, Agrabio and Donaire Sr. grew up in the same province of the Philippines called General Santos City, home to the famous Pacman Manny Pacquiao. It seems that General Santos City is getting a whole lot of respect of producing prize fighters and surely being a boxing Mecca of the Philippines. Both trainers were living not far from each other at Gensan and way back, about 18 years to be exact, they have already been acquainted with each other because they were neighbors. My conversation with Donaire Sr. continued, he told me that he knew Marvin Sonsona’s father, Ben Sonsona. He also said that they were friends back home in Gensan, and before he went to the States, he always sees him every time as he went out to drive his tricycle. “That’s why having the chance to train the kid is special for me,” Donaire Sr. said. However, in 1993 Nonito Donaire Sr. had the previlage of migrating to the States to raise his family there. At present, both coaches Nonito Donaire Sr. and Jun Agrabio are now working side by side at Dr. Rajan Yraola’s gym in Quezon City in sharpening the skills of Marvelous Marvin Sonsona. The experience of Nonito Donaire Sr. and his exposure to world title fights is a big factor for the young team. Donaire Sr. said that, on his first day on the job at the camp of Sonsona, he did not know how he would be welcomed. However, he was very pleased upon his arrival. "I could feel that they wanted me to be part of their family," said Donaire. Dr. Rajan Yraola was very appreciative that Donaire would take time off from his own family and fighters to be with the team. "Team Sonsona welcomed him as a part of the family," Yraola said. “I already knew the people who I will be working with and it was easy for me to adjust, I see great chances for Sonsona. Our aim in bringing home the WBO world Super Flyweight title will definitely be a success,” said Donaire Sr. It was a coincidence that a trainer who has a son who is about to fight for a world title, will be in the corner of another fighter that has the same style of fighting vying for another world title in that same weight division. God surely works in mysterious ways. We continued talking and I couldn’t help myself to ask about some personal questions. I was able to put Nonito Donaire Jr. in our conversation and I had to ask about his son, at first he was quiet about it and I knew it was a very uncomfortable question. There was silence for a second. Then he told me he is no longer connected with his son in anyway in his boxing career. "We are no longer in contact and I don't wantt to comment on Junjun's (Nonito Jr) upcoming fight," Donaire Sr said. I said I understand, so I tried talking about something else to get out of the subject. However, in a brief moment, he opened up to me and informed me of what just happened a couple of days ago. He was at his room getting ready to go to bed, when at around 10:30 pm Philippine time, August 8, 2009, his cellphone rang and noticed that it was an international call. He answered, and the person he was talking with on the phone who introduced himself as Damon DeBerry, wanted Dodong Donaire to advise him on what weaknesses Nonito Donaire Jr. would have. Donaire said to DeBerry, "what kind of a question is that?" Later he found out that DeBerry is the manager of Panamanian boxer Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion who is about to fight his son for the world title. "I was appalled on that question, I was shaking my head in disbelief on what people would do to get ahead in this business," Donaire, Sr. said "Junjun is still my son, there is no way a father would jeopardize a son’s welfare and I would never answer a question like that against my son," said Dodong Donaire. In my conversation I could still see Nonito Donaire Sr’s concern for his son, and even though they had some conflicts before, he is still a father to him. It was very obvious that the father of 'Filipino Flash' can’t hide the concern in his eyes as I was talking with him that showed that he still cared. It was surely a waste of DeBerry time asking such questions was asked to Nonito Donaire Sr. Nonito Donaire Jr. will be facing Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion on August 15, 2009, at The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, in a fight called “Pinoy Power 2”. It will be for the Interim WBA Super Flyweight title. I also learned that Nonito Donaire Sr. served in the Philippine Army, and during his service, he was assigned to the deepest jungles of Mindanao, the southernmost island of the Philippines, where many Muslim rebels still fight the government for their beliefs and their cause. He was telling me, that at that time, extremist rebel groups were as active as today and that one of their financial sources was kidnapping. As a young soldier he was oblige to obey, and be sent out catching crooks and saving kidnapped victims. As I got to the finish my conversation with Nonito Donaire Sr., I noticed that he is a jolly person, a comedian, and a good boxing coach, basing not only on what he had already accomplished, but based on what I observed and sees in his training with Marvin Sonsona. I see him as an easy to be with type of guy that you can laugh with wherever you are. In the end, I wished him luck on their mission to bring home the WBO world Super Flyweight belt. He informed me that they will do their best and will use all his knowledge and experience for Marvin Sonsona to win the much coveted world title to become the current youngest world champion of the world. Lastly, before I forget to mention to all the boxing fans in the world, Nonito Donaire Sr. is one of a kind special father and trainer, he is still a father to the "Filipino Flash" no matter what people say and will always be a father to his sons. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Oliver A. Gabito, DDM.  |
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